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Sunday MagazineAt this site, I republish the most interesting articles from the New York Times Sunday Magazine exactly 100 years ago each week, along with some commentary or context.

December 4, 2006

Idea: A building shaped like Godzilla

The Godzilla Building - Artist’s RenditionThe people of Tokyo should construct a giant building shaped like Godzilla. Imagine what it would do to the city’s skyline, and to the tourism industry. People would come from all over to take pictures. His eyes could flash red so airplanes don’t hit him. There could be an observatory in his mouth so people could look out over Tokyo. One of his arms could house a bar, and the other arm a restaurant. They could serve drinks called Mothra Martinis and dishes like Grilled Gamera Steaks, with a side of Mashed Potatoes.

The Godzilla Building - Artist’s RenditionConversations could take place like this one (translated from Japanese):

“Hey, I just got a new job!”

“Oh, really? Where do you work?”

“You know the Godzilla Building? I’m just a couple blocks South of there.”

Or maybe it could be partially residential. And then people could talk about that famous artist who used to live in the Godzilla Building in the apartment right above Godzilla’s left nipple. And then they could argue over whether or not Godzilla even has nipples.

The Godzilla Building - Artist’s RenditionMonster Movie conventions could be held in the building’s grand ballroom. A concert hall could be built between his legs. The Tokyo Philharmonic could call it their home. Season Ticket holders could get discounts at the Godzilla Gift Shop. There could even be a park at the bottom of the building, with Godzilla’s tail circling around it. They would call it Godzilla Park, naturally. And it could have a fountain in the shape of his footprint.

This is my favorite among your ideas so far. I’m looking forward to when materials engineering eventually enables very large temporary structures, so that cities can erect things like this during holidays or occasions and pull them back down again, fold them up and shove ‘em into a warehouse for later.

I’ve been discussing this very idea with people in Tokyo for several years now. My original idea was that it would just be a large sculpture with a lookout at the top and gift shop inside. Flames would come out of his mouth at night and his eyes and fins would light up.
This idea has been received with smiles and laughter and everyone agrees that it’s a good idea but so far, it’s still a pipe dream.

Arrrgh! I’m so sick of this argument! If I had a dime for every time someone asked me what I thought about Godzilla’s nipples… well, let’s just say I’d be the richest man in the sanitarium! Godzilla doesn’t have nipples: reptiles don’t nurse their young!!

Must have one of those ultra bright spotlights pointing outwards of the mouth and lighting along the spines as well. But you’re going to need a Wonka-vator to get anywhere in the building.

Since the idea of support for the arms was brough up, might I suggest that there be a second building— perhaps a Ghidorah building— with which the Godzilla building is grappling? This would provide necessary support.

I imagine a lot of people would not like to look out of the window and see that thing.

Also, where you face it (direction) may be a point of controversy. If you face it toward the USA or China, they may be offended. You don’t want to face it toward a school or government building, it would be nice if it faced out toward the ocean 70 % so you get a great view of the ocean and a partial view of the city.

I personally would travel to Tokyo to have dinner in the giant lizard! :~)

I don’t know much about godzilla, but what if you had one building of him fighting another building of a monster thing, with the arms raised like an arch, supporting each other? And maybe another building under one of their feet, kinda smashed like it was being trampled. Ok I guess all three would be a bit much, but it would probably make it to a casino in Vegas if you talked to the right people.

Oh yeah, that third picture is awesome. And i’d offer to live or work in Godzilla’s crotch, but it might be a bit too dark there all day. But give at a glass bottom and it would be a great place to spy on people in the park.

Vegas? Absolutely. Steve Winn would love this. Put it on the strip. You could add a wedding chapel - maybe at the end of the arm? Doves could fly out of his mouth, and his eyes could light up when the bride and groom kiss. Maybe add a honeymoon suite in the head, with a view of the entire city. Oh yeah, since Vegas is so hot in the summer, turn the tail into a big water slide too…..

What a bunch of Mothra-f%#*&^s! Hey, isn’t that the Ghidora Building I see in the background? … When Reagan was asked what he thought about euthanasia, he replied “Well, … I think they’re the same as anywhere else . .” Just like when he was asked what he thought about Red China … He said ” Well, … I think it would look good on a white table cloth … “

This is actually a great idea! Especially for a city that wanted the tourist revenue. I think you’d have to license that Godzilla shape, but who cares? It could surely be worked out, since that would be a great advertisement for Godzilla. He’s been around for 50 years with no sign of fading, so this wouldn’t age badly either.

Start digging the foundation- I’ll be over in a few hours with my tool box to help.

This is actually a great idea! Especially for a city that wanted the tourist revenue. I think you’d have to license that Godzilla shape, but who cares? It could surely be worked out, since that would be a great advertisement for Godzilla. He’s been around for 50 years with no sign of fading, so this wouldn’t age badly either.

Start digging the foundation- I’ll be over in a few hours with my tool box to help.

It’s been suggested that the Godzilla building should be wrestling with Ghidora. I say Mecha Godzilla. They would have mirror image designs with the Mecha Godzilla building having a metalic reflective tint on the windows and the Gozilla building having a dark green tint on the windows.

It’s be great if the building could actually walk around. Especially great if the power for the walking around was from a large gas engine, that sounded like a really small one, like a lawn mower or leaf blower, only much much louder. Then you’d get a warning when it was about to walk around - you’d hear the sound of a very large rope being pulled to start the engine. “Rum bum bum bum budda - cough!” Dang, it didn’t start. “Rum bum bum bum bum bum bum budda budda - cough!” Hmm. maybe needs choke. “Rum bum bum bum bumm budda budda budda burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr” Then we all run screaming.

What a cool idea! You could have Gamera in Yokohama and Rodan in Sapporo. Then you could go on a true tour of monster island! I visited the ‘Golden Godzilla’ in Tokyo, I’m sure others have too, but it’s kind of small. This would be more like what you would expect of a city like Tokyo. Anyway, there is an elephant shaped building in Bangkok so there should be one of ‘Zilla in Japan.

A wonderful idea! I’d go to see that time and time again! I’d LOVE to see it happen. A similar thing was constructed in one of the movies… and was runned by aliens from outer space. Godzilla eventually smashed it down.

There was actually a Godzilla shaped building in one of the movies, the Godzilla Tower in Godzilla vs Gigan, the centerpiece of a themepark that cockroach aliens were using as a secret base, and nearly took over the world if it weren’t for some meddling kids and those giant monsters…

Thats right in the 1972 movie Godzilla vs. Gigan they had a Godzilla tower shaped like Godzilla. It would be awesome to see a building made in Godzillas image. Well at least a Godzilla statue exists and I once saw a christmas Godzilla all lit up in Japan. But yeah the idea of a tall Godzilla building in Japan would be Awesome!!
David Nunez Gojira11354

Hey, anonymous. I’d never heard of it. But I looked it up, and unless you’re talking about a different project than the one I found, you’re only partly right. He did propose a skyscraper in Tokyo called “Godzilla” but while it was rather monstrous, it far from resembled the monster. Pictures can be seen at Michael Sorkin’s website. -David

Stop fooling around! they tried that once, it was documented in the
film, Godzilla on Monster Island (aka Godzilla vs Gigan)
dont you remeber that World Children’s Land was was built by cockroach aliens from Space Hunter Nebula M who polluted their own planet to a point of being uninhabitable and that the godzilla tower was eventually destroyed by godzilla himsef!!

Godzilla RULES!!!! In the Godzilla restaurant, they could serve Mothra Burgers, Monster Fries (would you like that “Mecha Sized”), and if you’re really hungry, the burger named Big G. Rodan omelets, and for the kiddies, Gamera Nuggets. This is THE best idea ever!!!!!!

What a gr8 idea! There could also be a huge mister between his buttcheeks that people could cool down with by standing under on a hot day! Maybe even a large stream of water coming from his dangalang that folx could drink from, provided they stand in line first.

I can see if you built an adjacent building and connect the arms that way.. as bridges. Because without support and one of those 6 - 7 magnitude earthquakes, those arms are going to fall off. Same with his base, I would have him standing in makeshift rubble instead of using just his legs and tail as support foundations.

I was surfing on the net to find some helpful informations for my homework-researching on “buildings shaped like animals.” This Godzilla thing might not be the right thing, but still, a very interesting idea!

I was surfing on the net to find some helpful informations for my homework-researching on “buildings shaped like animals.” This Godzilla thing might not be the right thing, but still, a very interesting idea!

I think that people that dream like do get things done and accomplished. My husband and I are both dreamers. If I had the funds I would buy land here in N. Las Vegas. The poorest neighborhood. Why? I would create buildings that look like what they sell. Hot Dog building that sells hot dogs, Ice Cream Cone building, Roasted Chicken building, etc. First it will bring jobs to the people that live in that area and second the people that don’t really want to go those neighborhoods would go out of curiosity. I love your Godzilla building idea. I know I would see it live if it came a reality.
Sandy & Jason

I think that people that dream like do get things done and accomplished. I love your Godzilla building idea. I know I would go see it if it came a reality. My husband and I are both dreamers. If I had the funds I would buy land here in N. Las Vegas. The poorest neighborhood. Why? I would create buildings that look like what they sell. Hot Dog building that sells hot dogs, Ice Cream Cone building, Roasted Chicken building, etc. First it will bring jobs to the people that live in that area and second the people that don’t really want to go those neighborhoods would go out of curiosity. I love your Godzilla building idea. I know I would see it live if it came a reality.
Sandy & Jason